Inflammation- and stress-related signaling pathways in hepatocarcinogenesis

Figure 2 Implications and regulatory system of interleukin-6/gp130/janus activated kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 signaling in hepatocarcinogenesis. Interleukin (IL)-6 secreted by Kupffer cells activates signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3, which promotes the proliferation and survival of initiated hepatocytes. STAT3 activation is suppressed by I κB kinase β through the prevention of reactive oxygen species. However, once STAT3 is activated, STAT3 activation becomes sustained through a microRNA feedback inflammatory loop. JAK: Janus activated kinase; SOCS3: Suppressor of cytokine signaling 3; IKK: I κB kinase; HNF: Hepatocyte nuclear factor; ROS: Reactive oxygen species.